Lightning Re-Sign Johan Holmqvist

Erik Erlendsson of the Tampa Tribune is reporting the Lightning have re-signed goaltender Johan Holmqvist to a 1 year deal. The contract is reported to be worth $1 million dollars and will offer Holmqvist the opportunity to prove himself as a #1 netminder in the NHL with the potential of a greater payoff next summer if he does.

With Holmqvist locked up, the Lightning are in a better position from a practical standpoint to move Marc Denis and his near $2.86 million dollar cap hit, although the Lightning remain solid behind their contention that the team would be comfortable with keeping Denis and Holmqvist and young Karri Ramo in a three-way battle for jobs going into camp next season.

Still, it is impossible to escape the fact the Lightning are in the midst of an offseason where the front office has been tasked with trimming the budget and, at the same time, with finding a legitimate finisher to play on Brad Richards' wing. Those goals seem inconsistent with keeping a #2 or even #3 goaltender making just under $3 million dollars.